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My brows shot up. “What?”

“I have feelings for you,” he said, voice low like it was supposed to soften the blow.

Doubt: I told you to leave his crazy ass alone.

“No, you don’t,” I said with finality. “You don’t know me well enough to have feelings for me. I can count our interactions on one hand.”

“You think I don’t know that?” he said roughly. “You think I didn’t want you all to myself the moment I saw you for the first time in that office? You think I haven’t been fighting against every nerve in my body that screams at me to—”

He cut himself off and straightened. “He’s keeping you from me, Carmen.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, genuinely confused. “Where is this coming from? I can’t— You can’t— You were just looking at me like I pissed in your oatmeal not even an hour ago? Now you like me?”

“I was upset, Carmen.” he stepped closer, and I stepped back. “Seeing you up there, putting yourself on display like some game show host just to do his fucking bidding.”

I rolled my eyes. “He didn’t make me do anything; I offered to help when I saw his project needed help getting recognition.”

“And who the fuck do you think went out of their way to make sure that project doesn’t happen?”

Doubt: Oh wow.

“You?”

He nodded.

“What? Why?”

“Because he doesn’t need another thing taking his focus away from you.”

Doubt: Huh?

“Boy, what?”

He dragged a hand down his face, “I was willing to let you go, Carmen. Really. I thought, as long as you’re happy, it’s good enough for me. But running a company long distance and taking on this shit? You two will never last with all this shit on his plate.”

“It’sourbusiness, Vincent. It’sourrelationship,” I pressed. “It’s none of your business. Now get out of my way.”

“I don’t want you to leave with him.”

I shook my head and moved to step around him. “You crazy as hell.”

But he grabbed my waist.

I gasped as my back hit the wall. The chill of it cut through the champagne haze fast, but not fast enough. I was too drunk to push him off effectively, and he was so close.

“Please let me go,” I said, heart beginning to pound.

“I just want to explain myself,” he insisted.

“This isstupid,” I snapped. “I’m with Theo. Youmetme through Theo. Do you know how fucked up this is?”

His face twisted. “He doesn’t deserve you.”

I glared up at him. “I’m not going to argue with you about this. It’sourrelationship. We’re together. No matter how you feel about it.”

His eyes burned into mine for a long time before he dropped the bomb.

“He cheated on you, Carmen.”